User Equipment Positioning Through Encrypted Distributed Node Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing distributed network nodes for accurate UE positioning, particularly in complex network architectures like 5G, where network nodes are disaggregated, leading to inefficiencies in identifying and communicating with UEs for precise location determination.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and apparatus that enables UEs and network nodes to receive configuration information for reporting positioning information, identify distributed network nodes based on connections and measurements, and transmit encrypted identifiers to a central network node, facilitating improved UE positioning through enhanced network node identification and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If distributed network nodes are used for UE positioning in disaggregated 5G networks, then positioning accuracy is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network into central network nodes and distributed network nodes, where each distributed node independently performs positioning measurements and reports to the central node. This segmentation allows positioning functionality to be distributed across multiple nodes, improving accuracy through diverse measurement points while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The central network node acts as an intermediary that receives positioning information from multiple distributed network nodes, processes the data, and determines UE position. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall system by centralizing the complex positioning calculation logic while allowing distributed nodes to perform simpler local measurements.
2Reliability
If encrypted identifiers are transmitted for UE positioning, then security is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential positioning-related identifiers (encrypted GSM, UTRA, or NR cell identifiers) from the complete network node data, transmitting only these minimal necessary elements to the central network node. This extraction approach maintains security through encryption while minimizing communication overhead by excluding unnecessary information.
3Reliability
If multiple distributed network nodes are identified and reported, then positioning reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of distributed network nodes that can provide positioning information, pre-filtering the set of nodes before actual positioning measurements are taken. This preliminary action reduces the number of nodes that need to be processed in real-time, improving reliability through multi-node measurements while reducing processing time through advance node selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive, from a central network node, configuration information for reporting UE positioning information or distributed network node positioning information. The UE may identify one or more distributed network nodes based at least in part on respective connections between the one or more distributed network nodes and the UE or based at least in part on measurement information. The UE may obtain one or more encrypted identifiers respectively associated with the one or more distributed network nodes. The UE may transmit, to the central network node, the one or more encrypted identifiers in accordance with the configuration information. Numerous other aspects are described.